[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 104 (Monday, July 13, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1734-E1735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             AMERICAN CLEAN ENERGY AND SECURITY ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. PHIL HARE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 26, 2009

  Mr. HARE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2454, the 
American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act. While this bill is far 
from perfect, it truly is the result of multi-region and multi-industry 
compromise, and I believe it will go a long way toward reducing our 
nation's carbon footprint.
  I commend Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and 
Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey for their 
efforts in putting together this comprehensive, global climate change 
legislation. I also commend my friend from Virginia, Representative 
Rick Boucher, for working tirelessly to ensure that coal-producing and 
coal-consuming states, like my home state of Illinois, can transition 
to renewable resources in a realistic timeframe.
  One of the strongest assets of the ACES Act is its potential to 
significantly expand the green jobs sector all across America, creating 
millions of good-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced. Through federal 
investment in the production of biofuels and manufacture of wind 
turbines, among other renewable energy technologies and equipment, it 
is estimated that 3,700 new jobs will be created as a result of this 
bill in my congressional district alone.
  Additionally, the ACES Act protects consumers from steep hikes in 
utility rates. I am pleased to see that the revenue gained from the 
allowance process in the bill would partially go toward those Americans 
most vulnerable to increases in their electric bills. With five 
separate programs to protect ratepayers from rising costs for natural 
gas and heating oil, I have full confidence that the residents of West 
Central Illinois will not experience significant hikes in their utility 
bills as a result of this legislation. In fact, the non-partisan 
Congressional Budget Office estimates that for the average household, 
costs from the ACES legislation would only be about 39 cents per day--
less than the cost of a postage stamp.
  I also appreciate that the bill takes into consideration rural 
agricultural districts like mine. By broadening the definition of 
``renewable biomass,'' allowing the Department of Agriculture to 
oversee carbon-offset projects in rural areas, and not including carbon 
emissions from indirect-land use, this bill would allow the ethanol 
makers, food producers, and agricultural equipment manufacturers to 
continue doing what they do best, while reducing greenhouse gas 
emissions at the same time. While I would have preferred to have seen 
in the bill a portion of the pollution allowances go to the food-
processing agri-business sector, in addition to allocating ``early 
action credit'' allowances to those companies who have already taken 
voluntary greening measures to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, I 
will vote in favor of this bill with the hope that these concerns will 
be addressed by the Senate or during conference committee.
  As a comprehensive energy bill, the ACES Act also provides for the 
expansion of new nuclear generating units, and gives bonus allowances 
to those fossil-fuel units taking advantage of on-site carbon capture 
and sequestration (CCS) technologies. I am pleased that the bill 
invests approximately $60 billion in CCS, the next generation of clean-
coal technology which reduces harmful emissions by capturing and 
storing them, thereby preventing them from reaching the atmosphere.
  Rural Electric Cooperatives provide much of the power to my 
constituents. As such, I am happy that the ACES legislation allocates a 
portion of the total free emission allowances to

[[Page E1735]]

rural co-ops. This important provision equitably distributes free 
allowances between Midwestern states and coastal states, as well as 
prevents excessive increases in energy costs for my constituents.
  Finally, I would like to thank my friends from Iowa, Representatives 
Leonard Boswell and Bruce Braley, for working to include a provision 
which adds renewable fuel pipelines to the list of projects eligible 
for the Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program. As the 
representative of a district that produces corn ethanol, biodiesel, and 
other biofuels, the creation of renewable fuel pipelines would create 
thousands of local jobs and guarantee efficient and affordable 
transportation of Midwest energy to the parts of the U.S. which consume 
the most fuels.
  The American Clean Energy and Security Act is broad in scope, 
focusing on necessary improvements in clean energy and energy 
efficiency. I hope my colleagues realize that the cost of inaction will 
be much, much greater if the United States fails to enact a bill that 
reforms our energy and environmental policies. I encourage its fast 
passage as it will create millions of jobs, stimulate our economy, and 
protect our environment.

                          ____________________